The Suede Sofa Blog

Day 21 – Advent Calendar

Do something for someone that the can’t do for themselves. (Examples: pay their electric bill, introduce two of your single friends to one another, take an elderly person out shopping, pray for someone who has drifted from the faith, etc.)

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: As you are in the car, sing the 12 days of Christmas, BUT take turns coming up with your own verse! (This was a family tradition in our house growing up…as we would drive to Christmas Eve mass we would sing this as a family and each person came up with their own verse! ~Lara)

Snowflakes for the Newtown, CT Students Return to School ~ How You Can Help!

Everyone has been deeply affected by the tragedy that took place a week ago in Newtown, CT. All of us at Suede Sofa were teachers prior to turning in our plan books for diapers and mommy blogging. I was a 1st grade teacher, Lara was a music teacher, and Robynn was a science teacher and school counselor. Now being stay-at-home moms we felt compelled to do something for the children of Newtown, CT who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School the day of that senseless act that stole the lives of 20 children whose ages are similar to that of our own.

The following letter explains a simple snowflake project that you can do with your children or grandchildren to send to the Newtown PTA to help decorate the new school that the children will be going to after the Christmas break. Although my children are too young to understand what took place, I was happy to make a special snowflake with each of them to send off in hopes of putting a smile on the face of another child.

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

Day 20 – Advent Calendar

Do something around the house to make life easier for a family member. Whether it’s picking up a sibling’s toys, straightening a parent’s work space, or helping clean up the kitchen, pitch in and do something to help someone else!

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: Collect loose change around your house and donate it in the Salvation Army Red Bucket the next time you go out!

Day 19 – Advent Calendar

Schedule a “date night” with someone special in your life (an evening out with your best friend, kid(s), or someone you haven’t seen in a while). DO NOT CANCEL

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: String Popcorn! If you don’t have popcorn, be creative with the food in the pantry (cereal, noodles, etc). More importantly…have FUN MAKING MEMORIES :)

Day 18 – Advent Calendar

Listen to this great Christmas song, called “Where’s the Line for Jesus”. (Search for the title if you can’t view the video below)

Alternative Activity: Do a Christmas craft or bake with the kids, remembering that the object is to have fun, not end up with something that looks beautiful. Let the kids lead rather than follow.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Day 17 – Advent Calendar

Sing “Joy to the World” at the top of your lungs. After you have done it once, invite someone to join you. See you can do it the loudest! (Bonus points for doing it outside.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: During dinner, have each person share their favorite thing about Christmas, their favorite holiday food and carol.

Day 16 – Advent Calendar

Go through your house and make a pile of gently used toys, books, and clothes to donate to a shelter. Drop it off on your next trip to town!

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: Dance to a Christmas song!

Day 15 – Advent Calendar

ENJOY FEELING LIKE A KID AGAIN! Make snowflakes and hang them up as decoration either on the window, Christmas tree, or around the house! (It helps if you trace a cereal bowl, cut out the circle, fold it up, and then begin cutting your snowflake)…but I let my kids do it however they wanted, as seen below!

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: When is the last time you actually colored? Get our some crayons, markers or a pen and paper and draw something related to Christmas.

Day 14 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #14 –Have a candlelit dinner, with Christmas music in the background.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time. The most important thing is that you do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: Choose a different place to eat dinner or let your kids decide. Maybe you can have a picnic on your livingroom floor as you watch the Christmas lights twinkle in the distance. Don’t have a candle? Turn off all the lights in your house except for one in the room nearby for a “low-lit” meal.

Day 13 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #13 – Have a s’mores night in front of the fireplace or outside around a firepit.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: Rest in the fact that the Great “I Am” has your back regardless what season of life you are in. (Click on any of the following for encouragement in any area you are facing.)